Bangladesh Prepares To Find More Bodies In Capsized Ferry

Rescue workers inBangladeshexpected to find scores of bodies on Saturday trapped between the decks of river ferry that capsized two days earlier with around 200 people on board.

About 40 people swam to shore and 35 were rescued after the double-decker ferry went down in the Meghna river near the capitalDhakaduring a storm on Thursday, police and rescue officials said.

Forty-five bodies have been recovered so far, according to officials in the Munshiganjdistrict, and authorities have given up hope of finding anyone else alive.

An official of theBangladeshInland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) said that the M.V Miraj 4 ferry had capacity for 122 passengers, but according to several survivors and a district administrative official the number on board was almost double, though there was no log kept.

The hull of the stricken vessel was visible above the surface on Saturday, and divers had attached chains to one side in order for a crane to pull the ferry right side up, BIWTA ChairmanShamsuddoha Khandkertold journalists.

The task is expected to be completed later in the day, which will make it easier for divers to retrieve the missing victims.

"It is unclear just how many bodies are inside the wreck, but once the vessel is recovered we will get a clearer picture," said one diver, who gave his name as Liton, while waiting to be called into action.

Grieving relatives thronged the river bank, many wailing in distress, as the salvage work continued. Hungry and enduring the summer heat, the bereaved also held protests to vent frustration at the slow pace of the rescue work.

Mohammad Hossain, a director of BIWTA said that the ferry was stuck in an underwater trench and he hoped to have the vessel hauled ashore within few hours.